What is Vitamin B?

B vitamins are a group of eight essential vitamins, classified together under a single heading due to their complementary nature. The majority of B vitamins are coenzymes, substances that allow other enzymes in your body to function properly. B vitamins play an active role in breaking down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. B vitamins help supply the energy your body needs throughout the day. Each of the B vitamins also has a specific specialized role to play within the human body:**

Vitamin B-1 (Thiamine)

Thiamine supports production of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which keeps your muscles and your nerves working together. Vitamin B-1 also helps release sugars stored in carbs to supply muscles with energy.**

Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin)

Riboflavin is an antioxidant in the B vitamins that supports cell growth, red blood cell production, and healthy glandular function. Vitamin B-2 is one of the B vitamins that is commonly used to help with stress-related issues.**

Vitamin B-3 (Niacin)

In the B vitamins, niacin specializes in helping the body to create cell membranes and other fatty structures that are important to produce and maintain DNA. Vitamin B-3 may help to maintain blood cholesterol levels already within normal ranges.**

Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic Acid)

Vitamin B-5 helps with metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, liberating energy and promoting optimal nutrient absorption and usage. Vitamin B-5 may also assist with adaptation to psychological, environmental, and post-operative stress.**

Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine)

Vitamin B-6 handles upwards of 80 different B vitamins chemical reactions within the human body such as creating neurotransmitters (including serotonin), fatty acids, nucleic acids (DNA building blocks), and amino acids (protein building blocks). Vitamin B-6 has also been studied for helping with PMS, carpal tunnel syndrome and homocysteine balance.**

Vitamin B-7 (Biotin)

One of the newest B vitamins, biotin was formerly known as vitamin H before being re-classified as vitamin B-7. An essential nutrient for healthy nerve function and good muscle tone, biotin is noteworthy because of the role it plays in promoting youthful-looking nails, hair, and skin. Vitamin B-7 has also been used to assist with candida infections and nerve damage symptoms.**

Vitamin B-9 (Folic Acid)

Folic acid teams up with B vitamins B-6 and vitamin B-12 to control homocysteine, an amino acid that has been linked to cardiovascular issues.**

Folic acid is also critically important if you’re expecting a child, as vitamin B-9 is one of the B vitamins that pregnant women need to support fetal health. Even after birth, B-9 plays an important role in early development, working to replace digestive tract cells, blood cells and many other cells throughout the human body.**

Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin)

More than just a B vitamins energy booster, vitamin B-12 plays an important role in forming red blood cells, and has been used as an effective treatment for pernicious anemia. Cobalamin also plays a vital function in keeping nerve cells healthy by preserving the myelin sheath, an insulating layer of fat around nerve cells that keeps them working properly.**

B Vitamins Directions for Use

Never begin taking B vitamins or begin a nutritional supplement regimen without consulting a health care professional first. Your body needs a constant supply of B vitamins because they are water soluble, which leads to swift absorption, circulation, and excretion. The common therapeutic dosage level for a vitamin B-complex usually contains 50 mg each of vitamin B-1, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-3, vitamin B-5, and vitamin B-6, along 50 mcg each of vitamin B-7 and vitamin B-12, and usually around 400 mcg of vitamin B-9.**